Anyone who has been working out for some time knows the importance that joints have in one’s capacity to keep training hard. The abilities to lift heavy weights and to perform body exercises becomes limited if the joints aren’t operating at their peak. Also, without taking care of your joints, your bones will hurt when rubbing against each other.
We shouldn’t wait until we have joint inflammation to take action. Use these simple tips to prevent pain and possibly even arthritis.
Use your big joints
Use your big joints to carry heavy objects. Try not to carry big shopping bag with your fingertips. Put it over your forearm or shoulder instead. Also, you should carry a large pot by putting your hands (while wearing gloves) under the handles, grasping the side of the pot, rather than the handles.
Do exercise
The pain in joints may make you hesitant to work out. However, research shows that stiffness get worse when you are not training enough. You should do aerobic exercise every day. When your heart is pumping you will boost your blood flow. Thus the cartilage will be well nourished. And there is an extra advantage – doing exercise helps you reach a healthy weight.
Don’t carry – push
When carrying objects, put them close to your body. Bend your knees rather than your back when lifting things. Don’t carry heavy objects – push them. It is better to use a shopping trolley instead of a heavy basket. Buy a suitcase that has wheels, so that you don’t have to carry a heavy suitcase. And keep in mind – don’t carry more than 25 kg.
Lose weight
You won’t simply look good, your body will feel better, as well. Each extra pound you gain puts four times the weight on your knees. On the contrary, even a small amount of weight reduction will give your knees relief. Research has shown that losing as little as 11 pounds may enhance your joint health and minimize the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.
Stretch your body every day
Stretching will help you improve your ability to move your joints. It fights stiffness and also helps protect the cartilage from wear and tear. There are many types of stretches that can help keep your joints healthy, but the four most common are static, ballistic, dynamic and P.N.F. Ignoring issues related to the joints may cause problems not immediately, but with age sooner or later you’ll feel it.